Completed insert set – 2012 Topps Gold Futures

21092014

I’m moving on to going over some recently completed insert sets from flagship Topps, and the next one is from 2012 Topps. In accordance with the Gold edict Topps issued in 2012, this one is Gold Futures.

Info about the set:

Set description: “Featuring young stars who are on their way to creating golden moments of their own.” This black-bordered set has a gold interior line with a ribbon at the bottom containing the player’s position and number. In the middle is the team logo, which can conveniently be replaced with a relic piece if necessary. There’s a write-up on the back that is geared toward the player’s

Set composition: 50 cards, 1:6 hobby odds (series 1 & 2)

Hall of Famers: none – these are all young stars.

How I put the set together:

20 cards from s1 & s2 Hobby / HTA Jumbo boxes & packs

2 cards from retail packs

20 cards from trades

1 card from a card show

7 cards from online purchases

That’s a really good percentage from trades or packs, much better than some of my most recent efforts.

Thoughts on the set: Not a bad set, and though the idea is far from original, I think having a set of future stars is one you could re-hash just about every year. The design is a little different from most of the other insert sets from 2012, with the black border. 50 cards is too much. And I don’t like when a set is so clearly designed to swap in a relic.

Card that completed my set: #GG-37 – Jordan Walden

I got this card via a Beckett Marketplace purchase in May.

Highest book value: #CF-16 – Mike Trout

Best card (my opinion): #CF-16 – Mike Trout

I like the Buster Posey card quite a bit – he’s taking his catcher’s mask off to field a pop up. But calling a guy a “future star” when he is 2 years removed from his Rookie of the Year season and in the midst of an MVP season seems a little disingenuous. So I’m going with Mike Trout, as he’s clearly the best future prediction from this set.

My Favorite Reds card: #GF-8 – Aroldis Chapman

The Cuban Missile wins in a landslide. Since he’s the only Red in the set.